Poco Returns to Kenya with the Poco C75 and Poco M6 Pro – Affordable Innovation for Kenyan User
Poco, a subbrand of Xiaomi, is officially back in Kenya with two new devices: the Poco C75 and the Poco M6 Pro. Both are 4G phones designed for specific users.
These two devices offer impressive features, so knowing what you want is important. The Poco C75 is more budget-friendly than the Poco M6 Pro; however, the M6 Pro boasts significantly better specifications.
Additionally, it’s worth mentioning that the M6 Pro is essentially the same phone as the Redmi Note 13 Pro 4G, with the only difference being the cameras, which we will discuss shortly.
Poco in the Kenyan market has always been known to offer budget-friendly smartphones with good specs at a lower price so you don’t have to pay more for premium specifications, the re-entry of the company will give users the flexibility on the type of Poco phone to choose.
Why Poco Stands Out in the Kenyan Market
Poco phones have been known to offer beefy performance at a cheaper price but for the longest time, they have not been launching in the Kenyan market, leaving Poco fans locked out.
The brand offers a wide variety of smartphones, from budget options to midrange and upper midrange models, all featuring a couple of flagship qualities. No matter which category you choose, Poco has you covered.
Key Features of the Poco C75
The Poco C75 is more of a budget phone than a midrange device. Let’s start with the display which is an IPS LCD screen measuring 6.88 inches, very big for viewing content, and has a resolution of 720 by 1640 and a refresh rate of up to 120Hz.
The phone's brightness can reach up to 600 nits, which is quite good. However, on bright sunny days, you may find it difficult to use the phone effectively.
It is TÜV Rheinland certified for its next-generation low blue light display, allowing for prolonged use without causing eye strain or headaches, particularly at night.
Under the hood, the phone packs the Mediatek Helio G81 ultra, unfortunately, it’s a 12nm architecture, so the phone might not be as efficient. I don’t recommend getting this phone if you are a gamer, it’s suitable for scrolling social media, sending and receiving emails, and making calls. It might handle some lightweight games though, if you decide to play demanding games you might be forced to lower the graphics.
On the software front, it comes with Android 14 and Xiaomi’s Hyper OS out of the box, however, it’s unlikely that the C75 will receive any major OS updates, we have no word from Xiaomi on this.
On board the storage it comes with three storage configurations 128GB 6GB RAM 256GB 8GB RAM, and 128GB 4GB, I recommend going for the 8GB RAM version for a better experience while multitasking.
At the back, you get a 50MP main camera alongside an Auxiliary lens, don't expect much from the Auxiliary lens as it’s just for aesthetics purposes. The 50MP should take good pictures nothing that will blow your mind away.
At the front, you get a 13 MP selfie shooter. Both the rear cameras can shoot videos up to 1080P at 30fps.
Powering the phone is a 5,160mAh battery which should last an entire day of use or more given the screen is an IPS LCD, however, this depends on your usage and You get an 18W fast-chargee inside the box.
The big question is, who is this phone designed for? If you're looking for a secondary phone, wanting to gift one to an elderly person, or purchasing your first smartphone, this is an ideal choice. It effectively performs all the basic functions you need.
For the price, it will cost you KES 13,799 for the 4GB 128GB, KES 15,599 for the 6GB 128GB, and KES 16,999 for 8GB 256 GB.
Key Features of the Poco M6 Pro
The Poco M6 Pro is essentially a rebranded version of the Redmi Note 13 Pro 4G. The main difference between the two is the camera megapixels, with the Redmi Note 13 Pro 4G featuring a significantly better camera. Overall, the Poco m6 Pro outperforms the Poco C75 in every aspect. Let's detail the features further.
First, the display is a sizable 6.67 inches which isn’t too big or too small to hold in the hands, it is an AMOLED screen paired with a 120Hz refresh rate for smooth scrolling and animation and a peak brightness of 1300 nits for great outdoor use.
It has a resolution of 1080 by 2400 pixels a 100 percent DCI-P3 color Gamut for vibrant images and Corning Gorilla Glass 5 for protection against scratches and minor drops.
The Poco m6 Pro is certified by TÜV Rheinland for several features: it has Low Blue Light (Hardware Solution) certification, Flicker Free certification, and Circadian Friendly certification.
This means that the device emits low levels of blue light and is flicker-free, providing a comfortable viewing experience that minimizes eye strain and helps prevent frequent headaches.
It has an instant touch sampling rate of 2160Hz which means the phone is very responsive to your touches but this will only come in handy while playing games so you are guaranteed to win those titles.
The phone also has 1920Hz PWM dimming which goes easy on the eyes to prevent eyes from straining, especially while the phone is at night or after prolonged use.
The phone is equipped with the MediaTek Helio G99-Ultra processor, built on a 6nm architecture that enhances efficiency and extends battery life. While it is capable of playing demanding games, you may want to lower the settings for a smoother gaming experience.
The software of the Poco M6 Pro is Android 14 and Hyper OS. It is set to receive three major OS updates and four years of security updates.
The phone offers two storage configurations: 256GB with 8GB of RAM and 512GB with 12GB of RAM. Depending on your usage needs, you should choose the option that best suits you.
If you engage in multitasking, the 12GB variant should be sufficient. Additionally, the RAM can be expanded to 16GB for the 8GB RAM version and up to 24GB for the 12GB RAM version.
On the camera side of things, the Poco M6 Pro has a 64MP main camera with OIS and EIS great for vlogging, an 8MP ultra-wide with a 118-degree field of view, and a 2MP macro lens.
At the front, you get a 16MP main shooter. Unfortunately, both the rear and the selfie cameras can only shoot videos up to 1080p 60 fps.
The battery is 5000mAh and should last you long enough depending on your usage, it is paired with a super fast 67W charger able to charge the phone from 0-100 in just 44 minutes.
The build of the phone is pretty solid, at the top there is an IR blaster for controlling your electronic appliances, a secondary speaker, a secondary microphone, and a headphone jack, yay!
On the right side, there are the volume rocker keys and the power button, at the bottom you get a type-c port, microphone, and primary speakers.
The Poco M6 Pro is an excellent choice for anyone seeking a powerful phone that can handle various tasks effortlessly without being overly expensive.
It boasts impressive features, particularly its display, which is nearly at flagship quality, and it also supports super fast charging.
The M6 Pro will soon be available in the country, and the pricing will be posted on Poco's official pages. Stay tuned!
Competitive Advantage in Kenya’s Budget Smartphone Market
Poco has come back to dethrone some of the popular brands in Kenya, this should be an awakening call to the brands that are not being innovative, for instance, the Poco M6 Pro can be compared to the Samsung A55 in all aspects apart from the chipset yet the Samsung A55 costs more.
It's 2024, and most smartphone manufacturers are providing users with excellent value for their money by incorporating features that were previously reserved for flagship models.
Xiaomi has been leading this trend for some time, and it continues with the recent launches of the Poco C75 and M6 Pro. This kind of innovation has propelled Xiaomi to become the third-best smartphone brand in the world, just behind Apple and Samsung.
Conclusion Should You Go For Poco?
The big question is: should you buy a Poco phone? The answer depends on your budget. Poco offers a range of devices, from budget-friendly entry-level phones to upper mid-range options. It's important to choose a phone that fits your needs and budget.
Poco phones offer budget-friendly performance without sacrificing quality, as seen in the C75 and M6 Pro. For the price, they provide the most essential features effectively.
If you are interested in either of the two phones you can purchase them on the official Xiaomi store or pre-order on Jumia.
